Amador County – The Amador County Planning Commission has a full slate Tuesday night, including a request by the McDonald’s corporation to amend its “Conditions of Martell restaurant, and allow it to vary from county design guidelines.

McDonald’s submitted the exterior Approval” to allow a change of its the exterior design of its designs for the remodel in January, according to a Planning Department staff report for Tuesday’s meeting. On July 6, “Amador County staff informed the applicant that the proposed remodel was not consistent with the current Use Permit” and one of its Conditions of Approaval, which “requires that the exterior of the building be designed so that material has wood, stone, or real brick appearance” and requires “that the exterior colors be earth-tone. The proposed design does not comply.”

On July 18, the “Planning Committee,” (Commissioners Denise Tober and Andy Byrne), “met and reviewed the proposed remodel,” and “indicated that they could not support the design” as it did not meet the Conditions of Approval (Condition 19). The staff report said McDonald’s was not agreeable with having a redesign, and was informed that the only other alternative was “to request an amendment to the existing Use Permit.”

The report noted that Condition 19 was “not generated as a mitigation measure through” California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, but during a public hearing, several people, the city of Sutter Creek and Commissioners had concerns about the aesthetics of the colors and materials used for outdoor seating and play structures.

The report said the local franchise gets corporate funding for the remodel “in order to create a new national image” for Mcdonald’s. It recommended various options, including denial, if the Commission finds it does not meet Condition 19; or approval, if they find it is exempt from CEQA.

Local grant writer Rene Chapman, who hosted planning workshops with a national planning expert at various locations in the county recently, urged seeking a different option than “Plan A” for McDonald’s.

Chapman in an e-mail said: “Design guidelines help preserve community character,” and “one of the best things our Supervisors can do to attract new business is to protect the unique character of our community.” ¶

She showed two fast-food restaurant design variations, such as a “Greek Revival” style McDonald’s in Independence, Ohio; and a Spanish-style Taco Bell in Fort Collins, Colorado. Chapman said “community character improves the local economy” because “the appearance of our community can attract or repel investment.” She said “unique community character equals cold, hard cash for many communities.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.